Putin has threatened to use shells depleted uranium in the Ukraine if the West sends such weapons to Zelensky. In this way, Russia has raised its tone after the announcement by the United Kingdom to deliver depleted uranium projectiles, assuring that we are facing the moment of “increased nuclear risk”.

A malaise that the founder of ‘The Political Room’, Yago Rodríguez, admitted not understanding in Al Rojo Vivo, making it clear that it seemed to him that Putin was having many “inconsistencies” when putting your “red lines” in this conflict.

This situation has raised questions about what exactly depleted uranium is and why it is so important to Putin, Are we closer to a nuclear problem?

Depleted uranium, a weapon with some destructive power

The truth is that, despite what one might think, depleted uranium is not considered a nuclear weapon. However, it has some destructive power and carries some health risk.

In Defense terms, DU is used in armor plates for heavy tanks and in armor-piercing shell ammunition, which is what London is sending to Kyiv.

Specifically, what this type of uranium does is harden the tip of the projectiles so that they can penetrate armor and steel. In this way, when a weapon made with a depleted uranium core hits a solid object, it passes through it. An aspect that can be key to the war and with which London intends to improve Ukrainian tanks.

Its use may pose a health risk.

The uranium causes the shells to burn around the edges and this helps them to pierce the armor. The ammunition explodes in a fiery cloud of vapor and the vapor settles as a powder that is toxic and slightly radioactive.

Specifically, this powder can penetrate the lungs and other vital organs of the people who were near the place of impact. A United Nations report has revealed that uranium can cause skin irritation, kidney failure and increase the risk of cancer.